Residents urged to have their say on budget

The Leader of the Council has urged everyone in the District to have their say on the proposed budget before a finalised budget is presented to Full Council for approval in February next year.

The budget for consultation revealed by Cabinet on 15 December maintains Council services at their current levels but also recommends a number of areas for growth. It also proposes a Council Tax freeze for 2012/13.

The following areas for growth are proposed:

• Increasing opportunities for investment in new jobs and business growth within the District by working in new business-led partnerships with Birmingham/Solihull and Staffordshire. Cost: £35,000 per annum
• Introducing free-of-charge pest control services in relation to rats, mice, fleas, bedbugs and cockroaches. Cost: £24,000 per annum 
• Improving street signage in the District. Cost: £7,000 per annum
• Investing in information which enables the Council to communicate in many different ways to ensure that the right message is delivered to the right people at the right time and to provide services which meet the needs of the community. Cost: £5,000 per annum
• Increasing burial capacity at Stile Cop Cemetery. Cost: £45,000
• Not implementing the planned increase in cemetery fees but to retain fees at 2011/12 levels

Cllr George Adamson outlines the budget:

Cllr George Adamson, Cannock Chase Council Leader, said: "The options that we are proposing address many of the priorities that local people have told us are important to them – boosting economic growth and job creation; improving our environment; improving how the Council communicates with residents; and providing services which meet the needs of the community.

"The District has been hit badly by the recession and the proposed Council Tax freeze will mean no increase in what everyone is currently paying. Because of the economic downturn, it is also vital that we do everything in our power to attract jobs and investment into the District to ensure economic growth, which is why we’re proposing extra resources to do just that.

"We want to improve our living environment by introducing a free-of-charge pest control service and improving street signs across the District. We also want to increase burial capacity at Stile Cop Cemetery in Rugeley and to freeze all cemetery fees at 2011/12 levels – we don’t want to add further financial pressures to bereaved families.

"We asked residents in the summer what services are most important to them and hundreds of people took part. The results of this consultation have informed our budget proposals and I now urge everyone in the District to have their say on them. We really need local people's views on what we’ve set out and any other options that residents would like us to consider."

An online survey is now available to complete and paper copies will be available across the District, including at Council sites and dozens of other locations including GP surgeries, libraries, churches, charities and voluntary groups. Council officers will also be asking local people for their views at community events across the District in December and January. Social media will also be used to gather views.

Residents have until 21 January to have their say. Cabinet Members will consider all responses at a meeting on 2 February before recommending a finalised budget to Full Council on 15 February.

Full list of consultation events:

• Friday 16 December: Cannock Chase Council Work Club, Civic Centre, 10am to 1pm
• Saturday 17 December: Cannock Chase Children's Centre, Cannock, 10am to 12pm
• Monday 19 December: Brendan House service user day, 10am to 4pm
• Wednesday 21 December: Police meeting, ASDA main entrance, Avon Road, Cannock, from 12pm
• Thursday 22 December: Rugeley Library, Christmas coffee morning, 10.30am to 12pm
• Friday 23 December: Brereton Library, Christmas coffee morning, 9am to 12pm
• Thursday 29 December: Before and after the pantomime at the Prince of Wales Centre, Cannock 
• Thursday 5 January: Police surgery, NISA supermarket, Cannock Road, Chadsmoor, 7.30pm
• Monday 9 January: Police surgery, Norton Canes police post, Burntwood Road, 3pm

• Friday 13 January: Cannock Chase Council Work Club, Civic Centre, 10am to 1pm